Piqua Civic Band begins 2014 season

PIQUA — The Piqua Civic Band begins its summer concert season on June 19 at Hance Pavilion under the direction of guest conductor, Dr. Kenneth Kohlenberg. The Piqua Civic Band will perform five concerts this season at Hance Pavilion located in Piqua’s Fountain Park. The band performs works ranging from Broadway standards to Dixieland and, of course, marches. This season’s concert dates are June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17, and July 19. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

The Piqua Civic Band was started by members of the Piqua Elks Lodge in 1932. After World War II, Robert H. Hance Jr. was named conductor, and would serve in that capacity until his retirement in 1999. Currently, the band uses a rotating group of conductors. The remaining concerts for this season will be led by Dr. David Booth, J.R. Price, Brian McKibben, and Brett Poling.

The band’s June 19 concert is titled “Marches, Ballads, & More!” and features guest vocalist Tom Richards, who will perform “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Danny Boy.” Other selections will include music from The King and I, Overture for Winds, Promenade by Leroy Anderson, St. Louis Blues March, Sinatra in Concert, Yorkshire Ballad, plus marches by John Philip Sousa and much more.

Sinclair Community College Professor of Music Kenneth Kohlenberg conducts the Community Concert Band, the Community Wind Symphony and Youth Wind Ensemble and teaches a variety of music courses. He also is the conductor and music director of the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra. Before coming to Sinclair, Kohlenberg held similar positions at Westmar College, Eastern New Mexico University and Dakota State College. He also has taught in the public schools in Michigan. Kohlenberg received the doctor of musical arts degree from the University of North Texas where he studied wind conducting with Eugene Migliaro Corporon. He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan, a bachelor of music from Michigan State University, and a master of music from MSU where his major was instrumental conducting, studying with Stanley DeRusha. Featuring music of symphonic bands and wind ensembles, Kohlenberg hosted programs on Dayton Public Radio, 88.1/89.9 FM, from 1990 to 2000. He has contributed more than articles for eight volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Band, published by GIA. Kohlenberg is a frequent clinician and guest conductor throughout the Midwest.

Tom Richards is a 1993 graduate of Lehman Catholic High School. While there, he was a member of the Lehman Show Choir and was a soloist participant in school musicals. He was a three-year member of Harmony ETC, the boys’ quartet. After high school, he trained the Lehman quartet for five years, and he directed three junior high school musicals at Piqua Catholic School. Richards performed the role of Jesus Christ in Godspell and one of the four lead roles in Forever Plaid at the Dayton Playhouse. He performed in a musical tribute to the Music of John Bucchino in New York City. He often appears as a soloist at weddings, church, and community events. A small business owner, Richards operates Richpak, a sales organization that provides plastic film used in the packaging industry. He resides in Piqua with his wife Katrina and their sons, Joshua and Dominic.

All concerts begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free. Visit the band’s website at piquacivicband.weebly.com for more information.

Contribute

Comments

All user comments are subject to our Terms of Service. Users may flag inappropriate comments.